Short Video Tells "The Real Story of Water"

Volunteer activists from the Surfrider Foundation collaborated to produce "The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water," an excellent short video that exposes the dangers of current water management practices and offers simple common sense solutions to sustainably managing this precious resource. The video was released in March 2010 on World Water Day with the hope that a clear explanation of the problems we face will spur action toward wise stewardship.

According to the producers, the video is appropriate for kids as young as 6, but we think it will have a greater impact on kids from middle school up. It explains how dwindling clean water  resources are currently managed, what the effects are on society and the environment, and "explores what the ideal water management system would look like, with localized water treatment plants and neighborhoods and cities that incorporate native plant life and filtration systems." Wise water stewardship could reduce polluting run-off, encourage water re-use, defend against the dangers of storms, and enhance the beauty and quality of life of communities.

The video presents disturbing realities, but offers an exciting and accessible vision for change that students and school communities can easily grasp and run with. The producers urge you to arm yourself and your students "with the tools to start thinking critically about water management, and break the Cycle of Insanity!"

See a 2-minute trailer at: http://vimeo.com/9838297

Watch the 20-minute video at: http://www.knowyourh2o.org/index.php

Learn more about the Surfrider Foundation